I am grieved, and feel for your gout; I know the vexations
and disappointments it occasions, and how often it
will return when one thinks it going or gone:
it represents life and its vicissitudes. At
last I know it makes me content when one does not
feel actual pain,—­and what contents may
be called a blessing; but it is a sort of blessing
that extinguishes hopes and views, and is not so luxurious
but one can bear to relinquish it. I seek amusements
now to amuse me; I used to rush into them, because
I had an impulse and wished for what I sought.
My want of Mr. Essex has a little of both kinds,
as it is for an addition to this place, for which
my fondness is not worn out. I shall be very
glad to see him here either on the 20th or 21st of
this month, and shall have no engagement till the
23d, and will gladly pay his journey. I am sorry
I must not hope that you will accompany him.

I was very glad to receive your letter, not only because
always most glad to hear of you, but because I wished
to write to you, and had absolutely nothing to say
till I had something to answer. I have lain but
two nights in town since I saw you; have been, else,
Constantly here, very much employed, though doing,
hearing. knowing exactly nothing. I have had
a Gothic architect from Cambridge to design me a gallery,
Which will end in a mouse, that is, in an hexagon
closet, of seven feet diameter. I have been
making a beauty-room, which was effected by buying
two dozen of small copies of Sir Peter Lely, and hanging
them up; and I have been making hay, which is not
made, because I put it off for three days, as I chose
it should adorn the landscape when I was to have company;
and so the rain is come, and has drowned it.
However, as I can even turn calculator when it is to
comfort me for not minding my interest, I have discovered
that it is five to one better for me that my hay should
be spoiled than not-, for, as the cows will eat it
if it is damaged, which horses will not, and as I
have five cows and but one horse, is not it plain that
the worse my hay is the better? Do not you with
your refining head go, and, out of excessive friendship,
find out something to destroy my system. I had
rather be a philosopher than a rich man; and yet have
so little philosophy, that I had much rather be content
than be in the right.

Mr. Beauclerk and Lady Di.(254) have been here four
or five days -so I had both content and exercise for
my philosophy. I wish Lady Ailesbury was as
fortunate! The Pembrokes, Churchills, Le Texier,
as you will have heard, and the Garricks have been
with us. Perhaps, if alone, I might have come
to you—­but you are all too healthy and
harmonious. I can neither walk nor sing -nor,